Air pump



March l, 1938. G. w. BAYERS AIR PUMP Filed July 6, 1956 J e m .w

UNITED lSTATES PATENTQFFICE AIR George/W. Bayers, Denver, Colo. Application July s, 1936, 'serial No. 89,140

s claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in air delivery systems for any purpose where a volume of clean, ltered air under pressure, is Wanted at a lowcost, such as'for beverage dispensers, doctors and dentists oiices, engravers, dry cleaners and the like.' To illustrate an application of the improved system, it is shown in connection with a beverage dispenser.

In `places where beverages are dispensed in large quantities, as for .example in beer parlors, the beer is usually contained in kegs or barrels located in the basement and connected by suit' able pipes to the taps located at the bar'. To produce a strong flow of beer from the keg to the tap, at all times, and regardless of the amount of beer in the keg, the surface of the'beer is subjected to air under pressure.

In large establishments the air is compressed by motor driven pumps which automatically maintain the air at a ven pressure.

Itis the object of this invention toproduce an air delivery system that shall be automatic in its operation.

Another object of this invention is to produce a .compressor mechanism of a simple and substantial construction that can be-attached directly to an electric motor, and maintain a constant predetermined pressure.

-A still-further object is Ato produce a simple diaphragmpump, ,including valve mechanism,

therefor, that shall be' of such construction that the air will not come in contact with lany oil or lubricant-covered parts.

` The above and other objects that may'become apparent as the description' proceeds, are attained by means of'. an arrangement of elements and a construction of parts that will now be described in detail, and fonthis purpose, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated land in Awhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor and pump assembly showing the latter attached to the motor;`

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the Dump? Figure '3 is a.V section through the air lter and basement door. Ihe beer or other beverage is contained in the cask or barrel I0 which is con` (Cl. 23o-58) nected by a pipe I I` with-a tap I2 located near the bar. Pipe II passes through a coolerI3.

Located `on a base plate or platform 1a, having rubber tipped legs 1b, is an air storage tank I4,- Which is connected `with the top of the barrel by means of apipe I5 in which is connected an air purier I6. The air is compressed by-V power developed by a'motor I1, provided with the usual shafti to which is attached a crank'dis'k I9.

Secured to the motor isal saddle or support having parallel sides 20 provided at one end with wings 2| thatare attached to the motor by screws 22. The saddle extendstbeyond the end of the motor and is provided at its outer end witha guard 23, whose lower end terminates in a foot 24. 'I'he top 25 `of the saddle has lan opening 26 and supports a diaphragm 21 which may be of any suitable material such as rubber, rubberized fabric, leather, etc. A pump housing 28 has a flange 29 that rests on`the diaphragm near its outer edge, and is secured to the top by screws 30'. I The pump housing has an upwardly extending portion 3I having two threaded'openings32 and 33.-

'Ihe bottoms of openings 32 and'33 are each provided with a hole 34 and the bottom of opening32 is also provided with one or more additional holes 35. iA hollow-plug 3 6 is positionedin opening 32, and terminates at 31, a short distance above the bottom. A valve 38, of consldefably larger diameter than the hole 34, rests loosely on the bottom, and operates-to close the opening at 31 on the compression stroke of the pump. The lower end of plug 36 has a bleed opening 39 to which reference will be made hereinafter.'

- A hollow plug 40 isthreaded in opening 33, and terminates in a closed bottom 4I. are providedl above the bottom. A valve disk 43 rests on the bottom of opening33, as shown in Figure 6.

A connecting rod 44- has vits lower end connected with a'crank pin on the crank disk I9 and has itsupper end provided 'with a head 45V that rests Openings 42 on the upper surface zof the diaphragm 21. A

.Y member 46, having an upper spherical surface, is secured to the connecting rod directly below the diaphragm. When the motor runs, the coni necting rod 44 will be reciprocated s'o as to ilex the diaphragm, and vary the capacity of the pump chamber directly above it. When the diaphragm moves downwardly, J air will enter through the tubular plug 36 and when 'it moves upwardly, it will leave through plug 40.

. Attached to-the upper end of theinl'et plug 36 is an air lter and purifier comprising a cylinder," whose lupper end is closed by a perforated cap 48. A screen 4 6 is podtioned adjacent the 'inner surface of the perforated cap 4l and a quantity of brous material il, such as cottonis positioned in the cap adjacent the screen.

housing il.

The lpurpose of the bleed opening 39 is to relieve all pressure in the compression head when the pump stopsl The air purifier I6, in pipe l5, is similar in construction .and function to that shown in Figure 3, and merely subjects the air to a second filter and purifying action, and

either purifier may be used without the other one.4

With this apparatus a predetermined air pressure can be maintained at all times within the` storage tank I4, and as a result the beer or other beverage will always flow when the ltap I2 is opened.v

The motor, compressor and tank are preferably l mounted on Athe base plate 1a for convenience in handling and installing. The rubber tipped legs 1b, absorb any vibration and noise from the machine and silence its operation. A reducing valve may be adjusted to put air at a pre- .determined pressure, into the tank il and the air line from the tank to the place of delivery is connected'to the tank at a point remote from the air inlet to permit the absorption of the pump impulses and to insurean even, smooth flow of compressed air at the delivery point. 'I'he automatic switch `54 controls the starting and stopping of the motor and is connected by pipe 6| with the tank M.

Gauge 82 registers the air pressure in the tank and the switch 54 will operate on a one and onehalf pound change of pressure in the tank. Fuse 63 protects the motor from overload. The whole assembly is compact, automatic and economical in its operation and can be readily installed for any of the purposes mentioned.

'Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. An air compressor comprising in combination, a motor having a shaft, a pump frame havlng one end secured to the motor, the other end overhanging one end of the motor, a base for the motor, a leg projecting downwardly from the overhanging end and bearing on the base, the frame member having a wall of extended area provided with an opening, a diaphragm covering the opening, a pumphousing having one side open and provided with a ange engagingA the diaphragm near its edge, the diaphragm forming-a flexible wall for the housing, the wall of the-housing having an inlet and an outlet opening, a tubular check valve assembly in each opening, the check valves being oppositely arranged, an air purifyingldevlceconnected in series with the air inlet y valve, and means operated by the rotation of the motor 'shaft for flexing the diaphragm alternately in opposite directions.`

2. An alr compressor comprising in combination, a motor, a pump frame having one end fixed to Atl'ie motor, the other end overhanging the motor, a base supporting the motor, a leg Projecting downwardly from the overhanging end, and

'on the base."

by means of power from the motor, and an air purifier in series with the pump.

4. An air compressor comprising in combination, a motor, a base supporting the motor, a pump frame having one end fixed to the motor, the other end overhanging the motor, a leg projecting downwardly from the verhanging end, and bearing on the base, ya pump mounted on the overhanging end, the motor'having a drive shaft, and means comprising an eccentric device for operating the pump when the motor shaft turns.

5. An Iair pump of the diaphragm typecomprising in combination, a frame having a member of extended area provided with an opening, a flexible diaphragm overlying the opening, a housing having a concave recess on one side and provided with a flange for engaging one surface of the diaphragm, the'h'ousing wall having two openings, the bottoms of the openings having each a hole of smaller diameter than the opening, a valve member supported on each perforated bottom, a tubular-plug open at its inner end, positioned in one opening with its open end' adjacent the valve member, the bottom of this opening having a hole positioned' beyond the valve, a tubular plug in the other opening, the end of the last mentioned plug being closed, the sides of the plug having openings, the two plugs serving respectively as inlets and outlets and means for fiexing the diaphragm alternately in opposite directions.l

6. An air pump comprising a motor, an overhanging saddle member on the motor, a diaphragm on the member, a housing above the diaphragm, one-way air-valves in the housing for admitting and discharging air respectively, an eccentric pin on the motor shaft, a rod connecting the eccentric with the diaphragm for reciprocation thereof, a base plate supporting the motor, a leg connecting the saddle member with the base, legs on the base, and vibration absorbing tips on the legs.

7. An air-compressor unit comprising a pumpdriving motor, an overhanging saddle on the motor, an air-pump carried on the saddle, an airstorage tank connected with the' air-pump, automatic means for 'controlling the motor in response to predetermined pressure variations in the tank, a supporting base for the tank and motor, a leg supporting the saddle from the base,

, for the tank and motor, a leg supporting the saddle from the base, vand vibration absorbing legs l GEORGE w. pagans. 

